Alkali solution dispenser for dish washing machines



6 1938. E v. J. slNKwlcH E 2,138,943

ALKALI SOLUTION DISPENSER FOR DISHWASHING MACHINES Filed June 25, 1957 2 sheets-sheet `1 ATTORNEK Dec. 6, 1938'. v. J. slNKwlcH ,2,138,943

ALKALI SOLUTION DISPENSER FOR DISHWASHING MACHINES Filed June 23, 1957 h 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INQENTOR y m/#Imwah Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITEDy STATES 2,138,943 ALKALT SOLUTION DISPENSER Foa msn WASHING MACHINE Vincent J. Sinkwich, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor of one-half to Raymond E. Marquis, New York,

Application June 23, 1937, Serial No. 149,831

' 2 Claims.

This invention relates to alkali solution dispensers for dish Washing machines and has for one of its objects the provision of such a device the use of which will insure a balanced and uniform dispensation of the alkali solution.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which will economically dispense the alkali solution and thus provide a considerable saving in the consumption oi the alkali.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the nature referred to comprising an alkali solution dispensing tank or receptacle having a self cleaning water inlet valve to prevent corrosion and clogging of the valve port and thus insure an adequate flow of water to the receptacle at all times.

A still further object of the. invention isthe provision of such a device in which the alkali solution dispensing receptacle is provided with one or more conduit forming pockets at the circumferential wall of the receptacle and positioned above the bottom thereof and outlet openp ings in the said wall leading outwardly of the indicated in the appended claims.

Thedisclosure made the basis of exemplifying the present inventive concept suggests a practical embodiment thereof, but the invention is not to be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure, and thelatter, therefore, is to be understood from an illustrative, rather than a restrictive standpoint. 1

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustration, is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmental longitudinal sectional view of a dishwashing machine showing my improved dispensing device as applied thereto;

said pockets and below the top of the said pocknally pointed out and specifically defined andA Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the dispensing device taken on line 2-2 Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of my dispensing device with parts of the cover thereof broken away.

Referring now to the drawings in detail I0 indicates the body or casing of a dishwashing ma-y chine having a compartment II for the reception of an alkaline solution.

In the dishwashing machines now commonly used there is provided an upper and a lower revolving spraying mechanism etween which a tray of dishes to be Washed is placed. In the accompanying drawings I have shown only a portion of the lower spraying mechanism as the said spraying mechanism forms no part of my inven tion.

The said lower spraying mechanism comprises arotatable or revolving device having tubular wash arms I2 and I3 and a pair of tubular rinse arms I4 and I5. The wash arms I2 and I3 are supplied with water having an alkali solution therein by means of a motor driven pump I6 in communication with the chamber Or compartment II and the rinse arms I4 and I5 are supplied with fresh water through a pipe line Il with which they are suitably connected.

It is to be understood'that if no other source of alkali solution were provided outside of the solution in-the compartment II the said solutionwould soon be dissipated as the fresh water from the pipes I4 and I5 enters the compartment II through the strainer I8 diluting the contents Of the said compartment and causing same to overflow and pass out through the drain pipe I9 To'overcome this undesirable feature I provide an auxiliary alkali holder and dispenser 20 which may be placedv upon the strainer I8 or upon any other suitable portion of the lower part of the washing machine. The said dispenser comprises a bowl-like receptacle 2| having a cover 22 which ts over the open top thereof. The cover 22 is provided with acentral upstanding annular ilange 23 upon-which there is supportedA an inner can-like receptacle 24 which is preferably pro- 'vided with a shoulder or bead 25for supporting same upon the ange 23. 'Ihe inner receptacle 24 is provided with a cover 2E the inner surface of the top wall thereof being lined with a wire mesh screen 21, the said screen underlying Opening's 28 in the top wall of the cover 26. A bracket 29 is secured to the` bottom wall 3U of the can or receptacle 24. Located within the said receptacle 24 is a float 3| having an upper stem 32 which passes through a central Opening 33 in the cover 26 and is guided therein. A lower stem 34' passes through a valve opening 35 in the bottom wall 3G, and a reduced stem portion 36 passes through a central opening 31 in the bracket 29.

The outer receptacle 2| may be provided with one or more conduit forming pockets, two such pockets 40 being shown in the present disclosure. The said pockets are formed by means of semitubular sections 4| secured to the peripheral or circumferential wall' of the receptacle 2 the bottom of the said tubular sections 4| being spaced a short distance above the bottom wall 42 of the said receptacle. Leading outwardly from each of the said pockets 40 through the circumferential wall of the receptacle 2| is a port or opening 43, the said holes being positioned below the top of the said semi-tubular sections 4|. The said port holes or outlet opening 43 may be partly covered by protecting extensions 44.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The receptacle 2| is filled with a strong alkali powder or compound to approximately the height indicated at 45 Fig. 2 and is placed upon the screen |8. The pumping operation is started and some of the water coming from the washing arms l2 and I3 will enter the float receptacle 24 through the openings 28 and will tend to ll same up causing the oat 3| to rise. The force of the dishwashing machine spray passing through the screen and striking the top portion of the float which is above water level, causes this oat to bob up and down as well as the iloat shaft, the said upward movement beinglimited by a nut 46 threaded upon the lower end of the stem. As the float shaft bobs up and down, the inlet valve opens and closes, thus admitting spurts of water into compartment 2|. At the same time this bobbing up and down of the float shaft rams through the valve opening any food particles which may tend to block valve opening.

As the receptacle 2| is filled through the inlet valve, a portion of the water, filters through the alkaline compound and slowly rises in the side The rise is slow betubes 4| as indicated at 41. cause the compound .is dense. The remainder of the water coming in through the inlet valve, overflows over the top of tubes 4|. This overilowing water and the rising-solution fuse together and go out through the portholes 43. At this stage of operation the alkaline compound 1s to the level approximately, as shown at 45. The compound is gradually consumed during operation of the apparatus and its level lowered. When the compound is below the open lower ends of the side tubes 4|, all of the water entering compartment 2| through the inlet valve passes through the bottom of the side tube 4| and outward through porthole, still maintaining the same strength.

It will be readily seen that without the conduit 4| the strong alkali powder or compound would soon be dissipated and after a short time nothing but the top layer of water entering from-the iloat receptacle would escape through the openings 43 to replenish the alkali solution supply in the washing machine \compartment However with the introduction of the said conduits the solution must perforce come from the bottom at all times whether or not there is an overow from the top, thus insuring an adequately strong solution at all times to replenish the contents of the compartment to be pumped for dishwashing purposes.

I may here state the pump I6 is of the intermittent type, that is, it runs for a short time, then stops and after a short lapse starts again. This intermittent operation causes the float 3| to move up and down, said movement tending to dislodge anyalkali deposit in the valve opening 3K5 as Well as in the bearing openings 33 and 31 preventing any clogging of the device and insuring a stead flow` of water through the said valve opening and a stead replenishing supply of alkali solution to the compartment I also find that due to the arrangement of the conduits 4| with relation to the outlet openings 43 there is a much slower yet even and balanced dissipation of the alkali solution than would be the case without the use of the said conduits thus resulting in a great saving in the consumption of alkali.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An alkali solution ldispensing device comprising a solution carrying receptacle having an outlet opening in the peripheral wall thereof, an open ended pocket carried by the said peripheral wall at the said opening and extending vertically within the receptacle with its open lower end spaced from the bottom of the receptacle and its open upper end extending above the opening, a

top for said receptacle, a Water admitting receptacle extending through said top into the solution carrying receptacle, the said water admitting receptacle having a valve opening formed in its bottom, a valve stem extending vertically in said water receptacle and through the said opening, and a iloat carried by said stem within the water receptacle for the purpose specified.

`2. An alkali solution dispensing device comprising a solution carrying receptacle having an outlet opening in the peripheral wall thereof, a vertically disposed open ended pocket carried by the said wall within the receptacle at the said opening and extending above and below the opening with its open lower end spaced from,

the bottom of the receptacle, a water admitting receptacle extending into the solution carrying receptacle through the top thereof, the said water admitting receptacle having a valve opening at its bottom, a cover overlying the water admitting receptacle and provided with inlet openings, a screen for the inlet opening, a. movable valve 1ncluding an upper portion extending through the cover and a lower portion extending vertically in the water receptacle and passing through the valve opening at the bottom of the water receptacle and adapted to close the same, and means for moving the valve upwardly and shifting its lower portion out of closing relation to the outlet opening.

VINCENT J. SINKWICI-I. 

